Issue Brief on “US Expanded Sanctions Against Russia Become Law”

“Congress could not even negotiate a healthcare bill after seven years of talking. Since this bill was first introduced, I have expressed my concerns to Congress about the many ways it improperly encroaches on executive power, disadvantages American companies, and hurts the interests of our European allies.”[1]

This was stated by President Trump on August 2, 2017 as he grudgingly put pen to paper to the new package of proposed sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea.[2] Trump believes that the bill remains “seriously flawed,” particularly because it encroaches on the executive branch’s authority to negotiate, besides hurting businesses of American companies and creates trouble for the European allies of the US, despite the fact that his administration worked with the Congress to improve it. Nevertheless, he did say that the signing of the bill was “for the sake of national unity.”[3] The bill was passed with overwhelming majority, with the Senate passing it 98-2 and the House passing it 419-3, which ruled out all chances of a possible veto from President Trump.[4]